👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️West County Pulse newsletter:

❤️ Eureka Fire Support
🚗 A Local Teen Saves a Driver
🏬 More Manchester Businesses

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

Top Stories

❤️ Eureka Shows Heart for Fire Victims

In a powerful display of community support, Eureka residents have raised over $64,000 to help the Biderman family rebuild after losing their home to fire. The local family of four, including two young children, lost everything when flames consumed their Grandview Ridge Court residence last week. The outpouring of support has left the family overwhelmed with gratitude.

✨ Local Teen Helps Choking Driver

A Parkway South High School junior used emergency response training to save a life back on October 31. Carly Lammlein noticed a stopped car on the Big Bend Road overpass where she found a man displaying signs of choking. She performed the Heimlich maneuver multiple times until he could breathe again, demonstrating the value of emergency response education.

📝 Area Schools Report Lower Enrollment

St. Louis County school districts are experiencing a substantial change in student population, having lost over 6,000 students since fall 2019. The trend affects districts across the region, with state data showing enrollment declines in even traditionally stable West County districts like Parkway and Rockwood.

🏛️ Page Names New County Prosecutor

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has selected former federal prosecutor Cort VanOstran to serve as the next county prosecutor when Wesley Bell departs for Congress in January. Although, the appointment still faces a legal challenge from Governor Parson, who claims the state should make the selection instead of the county.

Business

🏬 Manchester's Business Spotlight Series

Continuing its week-long celebration of Manchester businesses, the city of Manchester has highlighted two addtional local businesss: Chalily, a specialty shop offering garden supplies and home goods, alongside Mochiatsu Manchester, which provides unique beverage options for residents.

🌊 Local Water Co Makes Big Splash With $325M Deal

A west St. Louis County water company is making waves in the utility industry. Central States Water Resources has secured $325 million in financing from global investment firm Brookfield to improve water infrastructure across their network of 900+ systems serving nearly half a million customers nationwide.

📚 Cardinals Fund New Library Bookmobile

The St. Louis County Library unveiled its newest bookmobile yesterday, made possible by a $200,000 donation from Cardinals Care. The vehicle features 5,000 books, special Cardinals player selections, and modern amenities including WiFi access and ADA accessibility. It's part of a broader initiative to upgrade the library's mobile services.

School District Highlights

🧪 STEM Night Draws Record Crowd in Eureka

A record-breaking crowd of over 450 students and families transformed Eureka Elementary into a hands-on science laboratory in November. The Rockwood Partners in Education STEM Night featured 20 interactive stations where young scientists explored everything from robotics to neuroscience. Students even put their engineering skills to the test with an egg-drop challenge.

❄️ Parkway's Complete Winter Weather Guide

Parkway has released its winter weather procedures for the upcoming season. The district will use three designated snow days before switching to virtual learning for any additional weather closures. Officials will notify families of schedule changes through phone calls, texts, emails, and local media.

Ballwin

🏸 Lights Out at Ballwin Pickleball Courts

The city of Ballwin has implemented seasonal changes at Holloway Park's pickleball facilities. While the courts remain accessible for daytime play, the overhead lighting system has been deactivated for the winter months. The lights will resume operation come spring time on March 15th.

Chesterfield

🎄 Candy Cane Hunt Set for Dec 7

The city of Chesterfield is hosting a candy cane hunt on Saturday (December 7th) at Central Park. The morning event will welcome children ages 2-12 to search for treats throughout the park grounds. Holiday characters will be present, and participants can win seasonal prizes. Registration is required here and costs $10 per child.

Creve Coeur

🛠️ Two Major Roads Getting City Upgrades

The Creve Coeur city council has approved improvement projects for two major roads. New Ballas Road will receive $760,000 in grant funding for resurfacing and accessibility upgrades, while Ladue Road will undergo improvements from Emerson to Lindbergh Boulevard. Construction timelines extend through 2028.

☕ Mayor Hosts Community Coffee Tomorrow (Dec 5)

Mayor Robert Hoffman is continuing his community outreach program with an open forum tomorrow (December 5th). The informal meeting starts at 7:30am at the Creve Coeur Government Center, where residents can discuss any community topics while enjoying complimentary refreshments.

Eureka

💪 New Year, New Rates at Timbers

The Timbers is implementing its first rate adjustment following a year of significant facility improvements. The changes, effective January 1, 2025, will affect memberships, daily passes, 20-day passes, and pickleball court fees. Current members can expect detailed information about the new rates via email and mail.

Manchester

🎄 Light Up Manchester, Win Big Prizes

Manchester's Parks and Recreation Department is organizing their yearly holiday lights competition for homes and businesses. City judges will review all nominated properties on December 17th starting at 5pm. Participants can enter by emailing their contact details and address to the parks department.

Town & Country

🌐 T&C Website Gets a Fresh Face

Town & Country has launched an updated version of its official website. The redesigned town-and-country.org features a new layout to help residents access city services and information.

Wildwood

☕ Brew & News with Mayor Joe

Wildwood residents can meet with Mayor Joe Garritano at City Hall tomorrow morning (December 5th) at 7:30am. The monthly Coffee with the Mayor session provides an opportunity to learn about ongoing city projects and ask questions about community matters. Both in-person and Zoom attendance options are available, with online registration required.

🎅 Don't Miss Santa's Deadline

Don't let your little ones miss their chance to hear back from Santa! The special Wildwood City Hall mail service to the North Pole closes on December 18th. Whether dropping off letters in person or using the online form, remember to include your child's name and address for Santa's personal response.

THANKS!

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